Why is it that waking up with a cowlick can instantly send your spirits south, when there are so many other more tragic things going on in the world? “Hair is a powerful symbol of who we are,” says Maxine Craig, Ph.D., a contributing writer to 100,000 Years of Beauty (Gallimard), commissioned by the L’Oréal Corporate Foundation in Paris. “It’s easy to feel that it speaks for us—as in, if my hair looks bad, that says something bad about me.” But hair can also be a source of pleasure, especially if you’re open to change. (Think of the confidence you feel when you leave the salon with a great new cut!) Try these fast fixes and style tweaks to improve how you feel about your hair, and you just may upgrade your outlook, too!

41% of readers say

I hate waking up with messy hair, especially when I don’t have time to style it from scratch. So frustrating!”

Quick fix When the clock is ticking and pulling hair into a ponytail won’t cut it, just add water. Mousse, gel, hairspray and other products are made with H²O, which evaporates after you apply; adding more reactivates your product’s key ingredients, so you can easily restyle. Using a spray bottle, lightly dampen messy spots. Smooth down misbehaving ends with a round brush and blast with a blow-dryer for instant polish.

Stop bed-head before it starts. To prevent nighttime tossing and turning from creating a mass of snarls and knots, do some prep work before you head to bed: Work a nickel-sized dollop of styling serum through dry hair, starting at ends and smoothing toward roots. Then gather hair into a loose bun on top of your head and secure it. In the morning, shake out hair to reveal sexy waves.

For short hair Even a pixie cut doesn’t have to be confining. To get the look of longer hair, for instance, apply a texture cream or spray to damp strands and blow-dry. Point the nozzle downward, from the top of your head, to straighten. If needed, quickly run a 1-inch flatiron through hair for a sleek finish.

For medium hair Put a new spin on the half-up, half-down style: Take the hair from your part to your ear and twist clockwise from the roots, pulling hair toward the back of your head. As you twist, pick up additional pieces and add them to the ropelike coil (as if you were French braiding), says Kevin Mancuso, creative director in New York City for Nexxus. Secure with a barrette and repeat on the other side.

For long hair A loose updo with peekaboo braids is elegant yet laid-back. If your hair is straight and fine, use hairspray to create texture. Next, pick out three sections from the front and sides of your head and braid each. Gather all your hair and twist it into a bun so braids are visible. Secure with bobby pins.

Banish ho-hum hair Experimenting with your hair (like trying a new length) can set off a positive ripple effect in your life. (See “Why Breaking Out of My 20-Year Hair Routine Made Me a Happier Person.”) “It can remind you how much fun change can be,” says Janet Taylor, M.D., a psychiatrist in NYC. Start with baby steps (bangs or maybe layers), then find the courage to make other, more substantial life moves.

40% of readers say

No matter how much I wash my hair, it looks greasy. I’d love to be able to skip a shampoo and just get up and go!”

Quick fix If oil is your bugaboo, try a dry shampoo spray, which typically contains corn starch, silica or clay to soak up excess oil. Because it comes in aerosol form, you can apply it lightly yet thoroughly. The best technique: Lift up sections of hair and spritz directly onto scalp and roots, Mancuso says. “Then let hair sit for a minute and brush, which takes the oil right out and adds body—without leaving a residue,” he says. If you have curly hair, save your waves by gently dabbing roots with a clean makeup sponge to remove shampoo instead of brushing.

● Seek out alcohol. Look for root lifters and volumizing sprays that contain alcohol as one of the first few ingredients, such as Logics DNA Full Scale Root Finisher, $20. “They’re lightweight and will dry your scalp and hair a bit, which in this case is a good thing,” Mancuso says. When applying, target only your scalp and roots; stay away from midshaft and ends so you don’t parch (and weaken) them.

Quick fix Oil-based serums are like sports drinks for your hair. Products such as Biolage Smoothérapie Smoothing Serum, $14, instantly hydrate and revive hair, leaving you with a healthy, soft sheen. If hair is fine, go with a lighter styling cream (look for one that has the consistency of a nonheavy body lotion) such as L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Leave-In Conditioner. Rub a dab thoroughly between your palms to leave a light film that will moisturize without making hair greasy, Ishkhans says. Massage it into hair in sections, starting with tips and working upward toward roots.

Ditch dryness for good● Protect your ends. Your stylist might tell you not to shampoo daily, but after a sweaty Spin class or before a date or job interview, you beg to differ. To avoid stripping hair of healthy oils, “coat strands with conditioner first, from the midpoint to ends, then shampoo,” Mancuso says. “The conditioner acts as a buffer; you can clean your scalp and roots, but the ends won’t get dry.” After rinsing, condition your entire head again as usual.

● Pick and choose. Blow-dryers and flatirons are moisture vampires that suck water away from hair. Instead, try a straightening pick attachment on your dryer, says Antoinette Beenders, global creative director in Minneapolis for Aveda. It tempers heat like a diffuser, so it’s gentle, but instead of encouraging curls, it smooths out strands. To use, tousle hair dry, then run the tool slowly through small sections using a medium temperature setting.

● Block the sun. Intense temps and UV rays can sizzle skin and hair. Before spending the day outside, put on a hat or spritz on a UV inhibitor such as Oscar Blandi Capri Sun Shield Spray, $20. If hair is long enough, put it in a braid to shield as much of it as possible.